A 40x40x1.5 inches under the ocean painting with fish. In this underwater seascape, the fish are gold and grey lilac striped angelfish which although are fresh water fish usually, have found a way to live happily in my ocean of saltwater. The water above the fish is turquoise and blue and sparkling and you can see the surface of the water from below it rippling gently under the sun as a Caribbean sea does. On the lower lower part of the sea surface you can see sparkles of light and the reflections of the colours of the fish. The fish are swimming in formation (I do love the Red Arrows) and their delicate fins and tails overlap and coordinate with each other in a dance that could not be done without liberal artistic licence (I love that too). Behind the angels is a blue backdrop of deep blue water and below them you can see the sandy pinkish seabed with light patterns dancing over it cast from the waves above. Finally, although not too obvious in the photos, there is a line of soft violet that runs between the receding sea bed and the deep water in the distance. This line glows in certain light and looks fabulous with the aqua colours of the sea. This is a another in a series of under the ocean paintings featuring fish that I have been making since some Caribbean holidays taken a few years ago. I spent most of my time snorkling and observing water and light and patterns as well as the sea life below. I sometimes paint tropical fish in my seascapes but also, as here, place freshwater fish in them. I like the idea that they could have this much space which they do not really have in aquariums. Painted on deep edge canvas with edges painting white. No frame needed.

About Gill Bustamante

I am a professional artist based in Sussex and I paint large original landscape and seascape paintings in oil on canvas.

My painting style is a fusion of Expressionist, Impressionist, Semi-abstract, Art Deco, a little Art Nouveau and whatever mood I am in that day.

I am inspired by the patterns of nature and the energy, colours and spaces of the landscapes and animals around me.

I like to think that paintings have ‘little souls’ woven into them by artist’s and that these are what call to a viewer (or not as the case may be) and give a painting presence and desirability.

All of my paintings have a story added in to them - sometimes humorous, sometimes mystical, sometimes with a message of hope or encouragement.

My aim is to make art that offers a glimpse of spaces and possibilities where people can escape the manic pace of life and imagine themselves somewhere better – even if just for a little while.